Interview with a Cyberstalker

In this day and age, you not only have to be careful what you say but be careful what you write. With blogs and social networks, like facebook and myspace, anyone with internet access can find out what’s happening in your little world. Everyday we upload our latest pics and post comments on our friend’s blogs without thinking that someone out there in cyberland is using our online activity to track our whereabouts.

It wasn’t until I sat down with two ladies from work for lunch that I realized…cyberstalking was a lot more common than I thought. Here I was in the presence of a grown woman telling me about how some guy told her he was too exhausted to go out with her, but she had seen photos posted by his friends of him partying the night that he was supposedly too exhausted. Go figure. He lied. What is the big deal? I am telling you, I thought only crazy b!tches be checking the date/time and reading all the comments from a guy you only went out with once. It is like ease dropping on a conversation or sitting in your car outside his house! Normal people, at least so I thought…don’t do this. I have to say this type of behavior intrigued me.

Now we all know online activity is definitely reviewed in criminal cases so we won’t venture down that road in this interview but I am trying to get an idea of the satisfaction achieved in cyberstalking.

Everybody, here are a few lines from my interview with a cyberstalker, who will remain nameless.

C: First and foremost, do you consider yourself a cyberstalker? (chuckle)

S: No, not at all. I mean it just helps to know a little about a person before you meet them in person.

C: Okay, I can see that. But do you just search people online you have heard of, but never met? Or do you search to find out information about people that you know?

S: Well…both. Sometimes you want to know what is going on in a person’s life and it is just easier to just read up on their blog post, comments and view their pictures.

C: Did you ever just think about sending them an email or giving them a call?

S: He, he…yes, I could do that but this seems like a more legit way to get the answer. Sometimes you can’t ask the person.

C: Really? Hint. Hint. I am curious…how many people do you actually think write the whole truth on these social blogs or only upload the funny or good pictures? Did you ever stop think that their online persona is a little different from real life?

S: Yeh…that is true but there is some truth…

C: But how do you tell what is fiction from non-fiction? Isn’t this all a form of entertainment?

S: Not always.

C: Hmm…tell me more about your thought process. What types of things do you conclude from your findings.

S: Well, let’s say that he posts a comment about how exhilarating it would be to cheat on his girlfriend…I can assume that he would most likely cheat on me.

C: Ha, ha…not to be facetious but the key word is IF. People say stuff online all the time that might not necessarily be truthful. Don’t get me wrong you might be onto something but you can’t make a judgement on that alone.

S: I don’t. I see this research as a way of getting to know someone. In some ways you are more familiar with the person and feel closer to them.

C: (chuckle) Did you say “feel closer”?

So what’s up peeps…does it make you “feel closer”? If you read my post and comment every week for a year, should I consider us BFFs?

And if that is the case, I better watch what I write. (chuckle)

Until next week...peace :)
Courvoisier

Corporate Takeover

History just loves repeating itself.
Isn' it interesting when soon after nouveau technology infiltrates the masses the corporate stalwarts feel threatened and decide to capitalize that market for thier profit of course corporate takeover.

Well, you see major telephone and internet companies would like to imbue thier corporate capitalism on the internet. If Time Warner, Comcast, and AT&T had their way they would determine which websites load fast, slow, or worst -- not at all. Essentially, it boils down to pay to play. They envision taxing website providers to name their price on how bad they want their information to reach the masses. Therefore, the "price is right" if you're paying top dollar. Chump change need not play.

Do you know how many small businesses exist exclusively on the world wide web, because they are able to contain expenses and/or lack the capital to lease space? What about the grassroot organizations that can't afford ad space in the newspapers or on television?

The role of advent technology is to level the playing field so to speak. Allow new entrepreneurs to take risk and express their innovation. Now, I know some of you may not care and some of you care deeply about the issue. My hope is that we won't be ignorant about the issue and when you hear or read the words NET NEUTRALITY -- you know what the hell is going on. For more info check out www.savetheinternet.com


cheers

Bellini